Pachydiplax longipennis(Burmeister, 1839)Blue Dasher

Status-Global/State:

Distinguishing Characteristics:

This is the only species in this genus. The territorial male has green eyes with a white face, a black and yellow thorax with a powder blue abdomen that is darkened at the tip. The secretive female is brown-blackish with yellow-green marks. The abdomen is short, especially in females. The body length varies from 0.9 to 1.8 inches, depending on the gender. The juvenile has a black abdomen with interrupted yellow stripes and red-brown eyes.

Description of Habitat/Range:

This species is common throughout southernmost Canada and United States, except for the Great Basin area. With a preference for a variety of habitats, it is usually found at well-vegetated ponds, lake bays, marshes, bogs, slow streams, and ditches. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, and there is some evidence that this species has been increasing its range northward in recent years.

Flight Season:

Late June to mid-September in Wisconsin.

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

1%(9)

28%(261)

47%(430)

20%(184)

4%(38)

<1%(1)

Shading illustrates monthly percentages of the total flight season records for the species.
Each flight season record is a unique date/location/observer combination where one or more adult or an
exuvia was recorded (excludes nymphs). The actual number of flight season records for each month is shown
in parentheses.

Flight seasons begin earlier in the southern
part of the state, often by a week or more. Also, flight charts may not be accurate for rare species because of
few data available.